DNP's New Hologram Enables Authentication via Letters and Pictures Visible When Exposed to LED Light

Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP) has developed the DNP LED Authentication
Hologram, a new hologram product that enables authentication through letters
and pictures visible only when the hologram is exposed to an LED point light
source, like the ones found on smartphones. The product will be commercially
available from December of this year.

[Development Background]

Manufacturers of automobile parts, industrial parts, pharmaceuticals, and
cosmetics use holograms to verify authenticity-that is, to keep imitations and
pirated products out of the marketplace. Conventional hologram products allow
authentication by viewing under a microscope or through special films. However,
distributing such tools to all of the sales outlets and custom houses-much less
to general consumers-is impractical. This has led to demand for a method to
make authentication easier.

In response, DNP has developed a new type of hologram that enables easy authentication
by allowing for letters and pictures to emerge when exposed to an LED point
light source, like those found on smartphones and hand-held LED lights.

[Product Features]

The holograms have finely embossed patterns on the surface, allowing
for letters and pictures to emerge on the surface when exposed to LED point
light sources.

The hologram enables authentication by using common LED light sources
like those found on smartphones* or hand-held LED lights, eliminating the
cost and labor associated with distributing dedicated tools like microscopes
and special films.

Authentication results are readily captured with the standard built-in
cameras on smartphones and other devices and e-mailed to interested parties
in distant locations.

This new hologram can be manufactured without changing the conventional
production process, allowing for adoption with no significant increase in
costs compared to conventional holograms.

Combining this new hologram with existing hologram security elements
such as microtext allows for further enhancements in security levels.

* The authentication may be less successful with certain LED light sources
equipped on smartphones and under certain lighting conditions.

left: letters and pictures to emerge on the surface when exposed to LED
point light sources / right: DNP LED Authentication Hologram

[Future Prospects]

DNP plans to market this newly-developed hologram to manufacturers of automobile
parts, industrial parts, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, etc., aiming for sales
of 300 million yen in FY2017.

* Product prices, specification and service contents mentioned in this news
release are current as of the date of publication. They may be changed at any
time without notice.